Technological Adoption in Information Management of the Cocoa Reception Process in a Rural Farm in Soconusco, Mexico: A Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63688/a4jasa15Keywords:
technological adoption, agricultural digitalization, information management, traceability, digital transformationAbstract
Digital transformation has driven significant changes in agro-industrial systems, promoting improvements in efficiency, traceability and information management. However, in rural contexts, digital divides persist that limit technological adoption, especially in small productive units. The objective of this study was to analyze the level of technological adoption in information management during the cocoa reception process in a cocoa farm in the Soconusco Region, in the State of Chiapas, Mexico. An exploratory qualitative case study was developed, using semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and documentary analysis as data collection techniques. The analysis was carried out through thematic coding in three phases, allowing the identification of categories linked to manual practices, technological infrastructure, partial digitalization and structural barriers. The results show that digitalization is concentrated in the administrative field through the use of spreadsheets, while field registration remains manual, generating duplication of tasks and limitations in traceability. Likewise, organizational disposition towards the incorporation of digital tools was identified, conditioned by factors such as intermittent connectivity and the need for training. It is concluded that technological adoption in rural agro-industrial contexts is a gradual process that requires contextualized and progressive solutions to strengthen information management and productive sustainability.
References
Algassim, H., Sepasgozar, S. M. E., Ostwald, M., & Davis, S. (2023). A qualitative study on factors influencing technology adoption in the architecture industry. Buildings, 13(4), 1100. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13041100
Arangurí, M., Mera, H., Noblecilla, W., & Lucini, C. (2025). Digital literacy and technology adoption in agriculture: A systematic review of factors and strategies. AgriEngineering, 7(9), 296. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering7090296
Arion, F. H., Harutyunyan, G., Aleksanyan, V., Muradyan, M., Asatryan, H., & Manucharyan, M. (2024). Determining digitalization issues (ICT adoption, digital literacy, and the digital divide) in rural areas by using sample surveys: The case of Armenia. Agriculture, 14(2), 249. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020249
Bowen Quiroz, G. A., & Medranda Cobeña, G. I. (2024). Impact of information systems on smart agriculture: An overview. Ingenio Journal, 7(2), 117–136. https://doi.org/10.18779/ingenio.v7i2.824
Ciliberti, S., Frascarelli, A., Polenzani, B., Brunori, G., & Martino, G. (2024). Digitalisation strategies in the agri-food system: The case of PDO Parmigiano Reggiano. Agricultural Systems, 218, 103996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103996
Díaz, J., Quiñonez, Y., De-la-Hoz-Franco, E., Butt-Aziz, S., Mercado, T., & Salcedo, D. (2025). Information and communication technologies used in precision agriculture: A systematic review. AgriEngineering, 7(6), 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering7060167
Ferrari, A., Bacco, M., Gabar, K., Jedlitschka, A., Hess, S., Kaipainen, J., Koltsida, P., Toli, E., & Brunori, G. (2022). Drivers, barriers and impacts of digitalisation in rural areas from the viewpoint of experts. Information and Software Technology, 145, 106816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2021.106816
Geng, W., Liu, L., Zhao, J., Kang, X., & Wang, W. (2024). Digital technologies adoption and economic benefits in agriculture: A mixed-methods approach. Sustainability, 16(11), 4431. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114431
Kenzhin, Z., Zidaraliyeva, A., Zolkin, A., Pakhomova, A., & Kuzmin, A. (2023). Digitalization of the agro-industrial complex as the most important area of interaction between the state and business. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2910, 020125. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0175272
Lyu, Z., Jing, Z., & Yang, X. (2025). Bridging the digital divide for sustainable agriculture: How digital adoption strengthens farmer livelihood resilience. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1628588. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1628588
Manzoor, F., Wei, L., Siraj, M., Lu, X., & Qiyang, G. (2025). Digital agriculture technology adoption in low- and middle-income countries: A review of contemporary literature. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1621851. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1621851
Mouratidou, J., Lemke, N., Chen, C., Wurtenberg, A., Bloch, R., Donat, M., Gaiser, T., Hanike Basavegowda, D., Helming, K., Hosseini Yekani, S. A., Krull, M., Lingemann, K., Macpherson, J., Melzer, M., Nendel, C., Piorr, A., Shadban, M., Zander, P., Weltzien, C., & Bellingrath-Kimura, S. D. (2023). The Digital Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (DAKIS): Employing digitalisation to encourage diversified and multifunctional agricultural systems. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, 16, 100274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2023.100274
Perosa, B., Newton, P., & Carrer, M. J. (2021). Access to information affects the adoption of integrated systems by farmers in Brazil. Land Use Policy, 106, 105459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105459
Ruzzante, S., Labarta, R., & Bilton, A. (2021). Adoption of agricultural technology in the developing world: A meta-analysis of the empirical literature. World Development, 146, 105599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105599
Shamshiri, R. R., Sturm, B., Weltzien, C., Fulton, J., Khosla, R., Schirrmann, M., Raut, S., Basavegowda, D. H., Yamin, M., & Hameed, I. A. (2024). Digitalization of agriculture for sustainable crop production: A use-case review. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 12, 1375193. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1375193
Sharma, A., Johri, A., & Alfehaid, M. M. A. (2025). Exploring the determinants of ICT adoption for rural entrepreneurship: A UTAUT-based study in emerging economies. Social Sciences & Humanities Open. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102269
Sun, Y., Miao, Y., Xie, Z., & Wu, R. (2024). Drivers and barriers to digital transformation in agriculture: An evolutionary game analysis based on the experience of China. Agricultural Systems, 221, 104136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104136
Uren, V., & Edwards, J. S. (2023). Technology readiness and the organizational journey towards AI adoption: An empirical study. International Journal of Information Management, 68, 102588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102588
Vârzaru, A. A. (2025). Digital revolution in agriculture: Using predictive models to enhance agricultural performance through digital technology. Agriculture, 15(3), 258. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15030258
Wang, S., Yang, Y., Yin, C., Zhao, J., Wang, T., Yang, X., Ren, J., & Yin, C. (2025). Towards digital transformation of agriculture for sustainable development in China: Experience and lessons learned. Sustainability, 17(8), 3756. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083756
Yuan, Y., & Sun, Y. (2024). Practices, challenges, and future of digital transformation in smallholder agriculture: Insights from a literature review. Agriculture, 14(12), 2193. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122193
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Raúl Hernández Figueroa (Autor/a)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
El artículo se distribuye bajo la Licencia Creative Commons Atribución 4.0 . Salvo que se indique lo contrario, el material publicado asociado se distribuye bajo la misma licencia.